Tag: Technology

Coffee grounds are a versatile thing: used in everything from sustainable concrete to glasses frames, even offering natural oils for cosmetics. But as a cocoa alternative? It might sound far-fetched, but that’s exactly what a USA-based startup is trying to achieve. The logic is simple enough: from a taste perspective there are similarities between coffee and cocoa. First the...

Microplastics can be filtered during washing, while schoolchildren have already invented ivy-based detergents. Now, a startup in Taiwan has reinterpreted and patented an existing process so that industrial-scale washing can take place without the use of chemical detergents. Their device is installed prior to the inlet of the machine and treats tap water using electrolysis. This generates nano-bubbles with...

Experienced hackers can be exposed. Password vaults help people remember the many logins required to access online services. But even they aren’t completely risk-free. Cue a Texas-based research team and its browser extension, which allows users to dispense with passwords save for a single master one. When visiting a website, the extension must first be activated and the master...

Lighting and air-conditioning can be controlled using a ring. Now, a design studio in Amsterdam has devised a piece of jewellery that enhances digital security. Still a concept, the ring is used for verifying personal contacts. Initially, an integrated infrared-light scanner captures the blood flow through users’ finger veins. This information is converted into a personal code and stored...

Glasses help minimise epileptic fits or relieve the symptoms of depression with light. For motorcyclists, however, too much light can be a serious hazard. Enter an Italian startup and its new visor which automatically adjusts to light conditions using a layer of liquid crystals. Their arrangement is determined by a small solar panel in the helmet, and changes depending...

Training AI systems requires less and less energy. At the same time modern AI tools are getting more efficient at creating deepfakes, making impersonations appear real. Now a German startup has developed an AI platform which detects manipulation in media data. The software, also hosted in Germany, combines different AI models. These check whether a face has been swapped,...

Both blood sugar and blood pressure can be measured by smartphone. Now a research team in Japan is using the devices to determine radiation levels on-site in the event of a catastrophe. The team’s mobile solution comprises a foldable scanner with integrated LED light and a radiochromic film (similar to those used in CT scanners). The film changes colour...

Chickpeas double as a coffee alternative. Capsule machines are increasingly used for a quick, authentic caffeine hit, with natural capsules helping reduce waste. But now a Munich-based startup has developed a compact new machine that makes do without them. Two levers make it a breeze for users. Push the horizontal one in and the grounds enter the portafilter. Compress...